Chapter 18

The village of Dapan was neither too far nor too close to the county town. Zhao Yanping, along with four constables, followed behind Zhang Dajiang and his wife’s donkey cart. By the time they arrived, it was nearly noon.

“Officer, this is the home of Zheng the Blacksmith!”

Zhang Dajiang pulled the cart to a stop in front of a household.

Zheng the Blacksmith had just finished forging iron and was resting, preparing to eat. His wife was tending the fire at the stove. When she saw Zhang Dajiang and his wife actually bringing a group of constables to their home, her hands trembled, and she panicked. She ran into the house and hurriedly shook awake her husband, who was dozing on the bed.

“Get up! Get up! The constables are here!”

Zheng the Blacksmith was a burly man, shirtless, as solid as an iron tower, with a pair of large, bell-like eyes.

Hearing that constables had arrived, a flicker of guilt flashed across his face. After all, in times like these, common folk were naturally wary of government authorities.

The couple scrambled outside in a hurry. As Zheng’s wife passed by the stove, she noticed the firewood at the hearth’s entrance and bent down to tidy it.

Zhao Yanping remained on horseback. His original plan was to first visit the Zhang family and question Old Zhang before coming to search the Zheng household. Now that Zhang Dajiang had taken the liberty of leading them here first, Zhao Yanping was displeased and did not dismount.

Since Zhao Yanping didn’t move, Chen Qing and the other four constables also stayed put.

The five men, all armed with their sabers, looked imposing and authoritative, silencing the gathered villagers who had come to watch the commotion.

Zheng the Blacksmith was known as one of the strongest men in Dapan Village, and few dared to provoke him. He was used to being intimidating, but upon seeing Zhao Yanping—a stern figure in a purple robe with a face as cold as iron—Zheng instinctively hunched his shoulders and cupped his hands in a respectful salute.

“Officer, don’t believe their nonsense. I was in town delivering goods yesterday, drinking at the tavern until nightfall. I never even saw Zhang Sanlang. Heaven knows where that boy ran off to!”

Zhang Dajiang’s wife lunged forward, reaching for Zheng’s face.

“You’re still lying! Ever since your son drowned, you and your wife have been lurking around our house, shouting that Sanlang should pay for his life. You’ve scared him so badly that he’s been having nightmares every night! And now, of all times, he disappears while you’re supposedly out drinking? You expect us to believe that? Hand over Sanlang, or I swear I’ll fight you to the death!”

“You’re talking nonsense! If I took Sanlang, may the heavens strike me down!”

Zheng the Blacksmith shoved Zhang Dajiang’s wife away. With his strength, she was sent tumbling to the ground.

Zhang Dajiang, enraged, charged forward to brawl with him.

“Enough! Stop this at once!”

Zhao Yanping suddenly barked out an order.

“You hear that? The officer says stop!” Zheng the Blacksmith sneered, grabbing Zhang Dajiang’s thin arm and flinging him aside.

Knowing he couldn’t win in a fight, Zhang Dajiang hurried to Zhao Yanping’s horse and pleaded, “Officer, Sanlang must be inside! Please go in and search!”

Zhao Yanping’s cold gaze landed on Zheng the Blacksmith.

Zheng stepped aside, gesturing to his house. “These people have no right to set foot in my yard, but you, Officer, are free to enter. If you find Zhang Sanlang in my house today, I’ll let you take my head!”

His wife stood beside him, glaring angrily at Zhang Dajiang’s wife.

Zhao Yanping signaled for a cautious and observant constable to search the house.

Zheng’s home was not large, and there were only so many places a seven-year-old child could be hidden. The constable thoroughly checked the front and back yards, completing the search within fifteen minutes before stepping out. Resting a hand on the hilt of his saber, he reported, “Officer Zhao, there’s no one inside.”

Zheng and his wife straightened their backs with confidence.

Zhang Dajiang’s wife suddenly wailed, “You heartless scoundrel! Have you already killed Sanlang and thrown his body into a ravine? I swear I’ll make you pay!”

She tried to lunge at them again, but Zheng was prepared. With a casual shove, he sent her stumbling backward once more.

As the two families were about to erupt into another fight, Zhao Yanping, his brows furrowed, issued a command:

“Song Wei, Wang Chuan, stay here and ensure that Zheng and his wife do not leave without permission.”

“Chen Qing, go to the tavern in town and verify Zheng’s alibi.”

After giving his orders, Zhao Yanping turned to Zhang Dajiang. “Where is your home? Take me there immediately.”

His tone was severe, leaving no room for refusal. Zhang Dajiang dared not delay and quickly pulled his wife along to lead the way.

The villagers, eager to witness more of the investigation, abandoned their lunch and swarmed after them.

The Zhang family lived on the western side of Dapan Village, where the houses were more scattered and the location less desirable than Zheng’s home.

Despite this, their household was fairly well-off. A pigsty in the yard housed two large pigs and a litter of piglets. Outside the front gate, a large yellow cow was tethered beneath a willow tree. Zhang Dajiang’s mother, Granny Zhang, had just finished preparing lunch, her face filled with worry as she watched over two young grandsons. Zhang Dajiang’s father, Old Zhang, had fallen ill with anxiety after losing his grandson the night before and was resting inside.

Since Old Zhang was the last person to see Zhang Sanlang, Zhao Yanping ordered everyone to wait outside before entering alone to question him.

Old Zhang was only in his early fifties, and judging by his sturdy frame, he had once been a strong farmer. But at the moment, he looked frail, leaning weakly against the bedhead and coughing occasionally.

“Officer, have you found my grandson?” he asked anxiously.

Zhao Yanping replied, “We just arrived and need to gather information before proceeding with the search. Please recall once more—how exactly did you and Sanlang get separated yesterday?”

Old Zhang sighed heavily. “Sanlang is only seven, at the age where he loves to play. Whenever we take the cattle out to graze, he runs off all over the place. One moment he’s vanished, the next he pops up from behind some grass or a hill. Yesterday was no different. I lost sight of him for a while and assumed he’d gone home early because he was hungry. I never imagined he wouldn’t be home either.”

Zhao Yanping, having grown up in the countryside, knew such situations were common.

“Have there been reports of child traffickers in the area?”

“None. I’ve lived over fifty years and have never heard of a child being kidnapped around here—unless the family was too poor to raise them and willingly sold them.”

“Do you have any enemies?”

“No. We’ve had minor squabbles, but nothing worth stealing a child over. The only trouble we had was last month when Zheng the Blacksmith threatened us after his son, Shitou, drowned.”

“Then do you also believe Zheng is the one who took Sanlang?”

“He is the most suspicious, but whether it was really him, we have no evidence. We need you, Officer, to solve the case for us.”

Zhao Yanping noticed that compared to Zhang Dajiang and his wife, who were prone to crying and making a fuss, the elderly Zhang spoke with clarity and composure, his emotions far less agitated.

After questioning the old Zhang for two full quarters of an hour and getting all the information he needed, Zhao Yanping instructed him to rest well and then stepped outside.

“Officer, you must not have eaten yet on your way here. Why don’t you have a simple meal at our home?”

Zhang’s wife brought out a few flatbreads.

Zhao Yanping had no appetite and let the bailiffs accompanying him eat instead while he silently observed the Zhang family.

Zhang Dajiang and his wife, as well as Zhang’s wife, all had bloodshot eyes—likely from worrying about Zhang Sanlang’s whereabouts. Zhang Sanlang’s two older brothers were also present. The eldest, Dalang, was twelve years old, with a sturdy build that suggested the Zhang family lived comfortably. The second son, Erlang, was nine, delicate and quiet, resembling a young scholar.

“Erlang is studying?” Zhao Yanping asked.

Erlang nodded shyly, and Zhang Dajiang explained, “He studies at our village’s private school. We originally wanted all three boys to receive an education, but the eldest found it too difficult and gave up. The second and third both enjoy studying, especially Sanlang—his teacher always praised him as the smartest and most promising. Officer, you must help us find our Sanlang!”

Zhao Yanping remained silent. After surveying the Zhang family’s house and yard, he ordered one of his bailiffs to stay behind, then had Dalang and Erlang lead the way to the mountain where their grandfather usually grazed his cattle.

Zhang Dajiang grew anxious. “Officer, let me take you there! These two kids don’t know anything.”

Zhao Yanping gave him a glance but continued on with the boys.

As they traversed the nearby hills, Chen Qing returned from town with evidence. After stopping at the Zhang house for two bowls of water, he hurried to the mountain and reported to Zhao Yanping, “Sir, everything the blacksmith Zheng said checks out. After delivering his goods yesterday, he went straight to the tavern and stayed there drinking until dark. The tavernkeeper and waiter both recognize him and can vouch for his whereabouts.”

After a long discussion with Dalang and Erlang, Zhao Yanping was nearly certain that the blacksmith Zheng and his wife were uninvolved in the case.

“Head back and bring the Zheng couple to the Zhang house. We will be there shortly.”

Chen Qing accepted the order, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and hurried down the mountain.

“Officer, since the blacksmith Zheng was at the tavern the whole time, why are you still taking him to our house?” Erlang asked, puzzled.

Dalang flicked his brother’s forehead. “Are you stupid? If it’s not the blacksmith, then it must be his wife! One of them must be guilty!”

Zhao Yanping chuckled, his gaze sweeping over the dense foliage of the surrounding hills before leading the two boys back.

When they arrived at the Zhang house, they found a crowd of villagers gathered outside.

The Zheng couple had already been brought over. The blacksmith Zheng frowned deeply, eyeing Zhao Yanping with suspicion, while his wife clung anxiously to his arm, her face full of fear.

Sitting in the courtyard, Zhao Yanping had the elderly Zhang brought out from his room, where he had been resting.

After silencing the quarrel between the Zhangs and the Zhengs, Zhao Yanping turned to the old man and asked, “Sir, I hear you have three grandsons, and Sanlang is your favorite?”

The old man stared at him without answering.

Zhao Yanping continued, “After Shitou drowned, Sanlang was threatened and scolded by the Zhengs outside, and at home, his parents berated him for swimming in the pond and causing trouble. This left him so distressed that he lost his appetite and suffered nightmares. Since you couldn’t stop the Zhengs from harassing him, nor could you control your son and daughter-in-law, you decided to keep Sanlang by your side at all times, rarely staying at home. Is that right?”

The old man’s rigid shoulders slumped.

Zhao Yanping glanced at Dalang before continuing, “Dalang said he saw you take tea cakes and dried meat from the house yesterday. He accused you of favoritism, saying you always kept the best for Sanlang. But in reality, you had hidden Sanlang away, and the food was meant to keep him fed, wasn’t it?”

At these words, shock rippled through the gathered villagers, as well as the Zhang and Zheng families.

“Father… was it really you?” Zhang Dajiang asked, his eyes red.

The old man straightened his back and admitted it without hesitation.

Zhang Dajiang’s wife fell to her knees, covering her mouth as she wept. “Why did you hide Sanlang? You nearly scared us to death…”

The old man let out a cold laugh and glared at his son and daughter-in-law. “Why did I hide him? You two know better than anyone! He went swimming with Shitou, and when Shitou drowned, Sanlang was terrified. He was so scared that he called out for Shitou even in his dreams. But what did you do? Instead of comforting him, you took out your frustrations on him just because the Zhengs came causing trouble! If I hadn’t hidden him away, if I hadn’t reminded you that he’s your own flesh and blood, sooner or later, you would have driven him to ruin!”

The couple hung their heads in shame.

Upon hearing that Sanlang had been crying for Shitou even in his sleep, the blacksmith’s wife suddenly broke down into loud sobs.

The old man pointed at the blacksmith. “And you! Do you think we wanted Shitou to die? That was fate! I tolerated you cursing Sanlang once or twice, but you came every day to hurl abuse at him. We knew you were just venting your grief, but Sanlang is a child—he was truly afraid you’d hurt him! Let me tell you, blacksmith, I hid Sanlang not just to teach my son and his wife a lesson, but to warn you as well! If you dare lay a hand on him, just as the Officer found me today, he will find you tomorrow. If you want to sit in the county jail or lose your head, go ahead and try!”

The blacksmith’s face turned red. He glanced at the stern, purple-robed officer watching him coldly and suddenly squatted down, rubbing his head. “I was just in pain… Shitou is gone, and it hurts… My wife and I are both suffering…”

The old man scoffed. “So you take out your suffering on Sanlang? Do you think cursing him to death will bring Shitou back?”

The blacksmith fell silent.

Having said his piece, the old man pointed to a distant hill. “Sanlang is in a cave on that mountain. Go bring him back and comfort him. Don’t let your own child grow distant from you.”

Hearing that her son was safe, Zhang Dajiang’s wife scrambled to her feet and ran off, her two sons following close behind.

The old man turned to Zhao Yanping, shoulders slumped. “I caused unnecessary trouble for you officers. I take full responsibility. I will go with you to the county office.”

Zhao Yanping said coldly, “This is false reporting and contempt of the authorities. You will come with us, and the magistrate will decide your punishment.”

The old man had no objections.

Zhang Dajiang knelt and pleaded for his father’s release, even offering to take his place in jail. The villagers, moved by the old man’s intentions, also begged for leniency, including the blacksmith and his wife.

But Zhao Yanping couldn’t just let it go—if he did, others might try the same stunt in the future. Without a word, he mounted his horse and ordered the old man to be taken away.